diff --git a/library/include/BitArray.h b/library/include/BitArray.h
index fd9bd98fc..ff68ea1d1 100644
--- a/library/include/BitArray.h
+++ b/library/include/BitArray.h
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ namespace DFHack
             if (newsize == size)
                 return;
             uint8_t* mem = (uint8_t *) realloc(bits, newsize);
-            if(!mem)
+            if(!mem && newsize != 0)
                 throw std::bad_alloc();
             bits = mem;
             if (newsize > size)
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ namespace DFHack
             else
             {
                 T* mem = (T*) realloc(m_data, sizeof(T)*new_size);
-                if(!mem)
+                if(!mem && new_size != 0)
                     throw std::bad_alloc();
                 m_data = mem;
             }
diff --git a/library/include/DataIdentity.h b/library/include/DataIdentity.h
index 0f5fd9e7c..21dc68d1a 100644
--- a/library/include/DataIdentity.h
+++ b/library/include/DataIdentity.h
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ namespace df
         }
 
         virtual bool resize(void *ptr, int size) {
-            ((container*)ptr)->resize(size);
+            ((container*)ptr)->resize(size*8);
             return true;
         }